Page 12 of Reign

“Drink.”

He placed a tablet on my tongue, followed by the coolness of a glass against my lips. I gulped down his offering. Those tiny tablets were the only thing that could stop the pain and the noise in my head. The wolf's howl became desolate as she faded. My heart ached, and I felt my chest hollow out all over again. I curled into a ball and wrapped my arms around my stomach. Tears seeped from my eyes, but for some reason, I didn't want Jed to see them. I turned my head into the pillow. "I'm sorry," I whispered.

“It’s okay. Just sleep now, you’ll feel better again soon.”

I closed my eyes, but it wasn't Jed I'd been apologising to; it was the beautiful wolf I could see in my mind, the one who became nothing but mist.

Chapter 5

Connor

The crowd roaredas Owen slammed the demon into the hard floor of the fight ring. A shiver of anticipation rolled over my skin, causing Prime to pace and snarl. He wanted out again. I'd fought to keep him contained as I'd taken on more shifters who wanted to challenge me. The Count had messaged me and suggested we visit the club again tonight and that I challenge the previous night's winner. So I had. I didn't know his agenda with that fight, but I was willing to run with it. The fight hadn't happened as yet, though we had warmed up with some shifters who had banded together to attack me; they apparently didn't agree with my having power over them. Subsequently, the bodies of those stupid enough to refuse to submit were gone while the rest were now my subjects and giving me a wide berth. I huffed a laugh as Owen smashed his fist into the demon's face, breaking his nose and sending blood flying through the air.

Prime snarled at me. He wanted to release his wrath, his blood boiling with the need to destroy. As well as the shifters who we'd fought near the bar, I'd fought twelve rounds in the ring. Sweat rolled down my naked chest and back, but I hadn't met a fighter yet who could truly challenge me. Killing all of them wasn't an option. Balthazar would be pissed at me if I did, though I was certain that he had bet on me tonight and was happy to rake in more money at my expense. I glanced over at him and lifted my beer before chugging it down. He smirked and nodded, his eyes alight with an odd ruby glint.

The atmosphere of the club was electric. The bloodshed and tension my pack and I had provoked was off the charts, even for this place, and now word was out that the Count was condoning it, more shifters piled into the club. Whether it was to see their new king or to try and prove themselves against my brothers and me, I had no idea, but Balthazar knew it needed to happen. It had been the same for nearly two weeks. He'd agreed to let me establish my rule without intervention while he sought out Manivera's woman. He'd given me his oath, and it seemed he took that very seriously. He'd also seen the human body count in the city rising as more demons appeared. I'd meant it when I told him I'd give him all the information I had once I knew where Ember was. In the meantime, my brothers and I fought those demon fuckers every night and sent them back to Hell. We were fit, mean and far more experienced than the shifters who challenged us and more than happy to flaunt it. I cracked my neck and grinned as I saw two more shifters approach from my right.

Stone and Lionel snarled. I slammed my pint glass down and grinned. “Let them through, brothers.”

They returned my grin and stepped back. “Sure thing, boss.”

B’nar huffed and stepped back.

“You running away, Prince?” Stone smirked at his friend. Yeah, that’s what they were now; friends. Good ones.

B’nar snarled. “No, I just don’t want blood on my clothes. This kind of violence is messy and requires far too much effort.”

I'd have laughed in his face if I hadn't needed to dart sideways to avoid a barrage of punches. I grabbed each of my attackers by their throats and squeezed, holding them still. Urgh, it was too easy. I eyed B'nar. "Prince, you need to loosen up. Swear once in a while, go and fuck someone, fight. You are no better than us when it comes to hankering after some good old fashioned violence. I see it in your eyes." And I threw both of my attackers down. Not far enough away that they'd give up. I was enjoying myself too much and wanted to continue.

Stone laughed at B’nar’s bunched brows and disgruntled expression. “Come on, man, let loose. No one here’s judging you. Fuck, they don’t even know who you are. You're not a prince here. Just one of us.”

B'nar stared at Stone; his head cocked as he contemplated those words. Then a smile stretched his mouth. "You're right." He watched as the two shifters got back on their feet and rushed me, the crowd around us baying for blood. Excitement and adrenaline pumped through me, and I roared. This made them hesitate, and a waft of fear hit me.

"Oh, no, you fucking don't." And I grabbed them as they turned to run. "Fight, you cowards! You wanted me; now you've got me." My fists connected with each of their faces until they were groaning on the ground. Myles and Reed grinned as they pulled the males by the scruff of their necks to their feet. They swayed but managed to remain standing, just. Neither of them looked at me. "That's right; you are mine now. Swear your life to me, submit to my rule, and I will let you get on with your lives." I glanced at the Count, who watched closely. The vamp really deserved something for letting me trash his precious club every night. "Refuse, and I'll give you to the Count. He might kill you or put you to use in others ways. I don't know, and I don't care."

There was no hesitation.

“I submit.”

Reed kicked the back of one of the males’ knees, Myles the other one’s. “Add, my king or Prime on that, you piece of shit.”

“I submit, my King.” They both growled out.

I grinned. "Good, now go and spread the word. I'm here to stay. If you or any other shifters want to fight for the Alpha position of London, then be ready when I send the word out for the trials."

“Yes, Prime.”

“Much better. Now get out of my face.”

They left. B’nar watched them go, then fixed his gaze on the ring. “My turn.” He grinned at Stone and me. I laughed out loud at the excitement on his face.

"Fucking-A!" Stone smacked his friend on the back. "But don't you want to protect your finery, Prince? Might wanna strip." He tipped his chin to the women who had been trying hard to get our attention all night. "The females love seeing some naked chest."

B'nar glanced at them, and his lip curled back. I wasn't sure if it was a snarl or a smile, probably both, but he unfastened his leather jacket, shrugged it off, and ripped off his shirt. He threw them at Stone and, grinning, vaulted into the ring, his tattooed body and blue hair gleaming in the club lights.

Catcalls and whistles rang through the air. Owen grinned and slapped B'nar on the shoulder as he leapt out of the ring. On the far side, a huge vampire jumped in; clearly, he didn't like the fae. His face was a picture of hatred. B'nar bared his sharp teeth and let his famous control go—a little. He prowled in a circle, fluid and ready when the vampire used his super-speed to attack. B'nar spun, caught him with a hard punch to his solar plexus and dropped the vamp to the floor.

I chuckled. It was good to see him loosen up. Stone and the others yelled encouragement, though we all knew he didn’t need it. B’nar could have broken the vamp’s neck in that first attack if he’d wanted. He let the vamp land a punch on his jaw, and we all hollered.

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